Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

What do you do when a trusted friend tells you something you don't want to hear? How do you respond when they speak truth to you, but the truth stinks? It's a tough situation. I know, I’ve been there. I have a very tight inner circle, and when someone inside speaks wisdom against a decision I made or a perspective I have, I filter that through all the truths I know.

Does this person love me? Do they care more about my holiness than my desires? Can they see a higher and bigger perspective than I can? And ultimately, is their character one I trust to point me toward the Lord?

If all this is true of our earthly friends, imagine how much more true it is of our Heavenly Father and Christ, our Savior! This chapter has back-to-back sections of scripture we don't like to read. It makes us feel uncomfortable. It's the part we like to skim over and hope the pastor never preaches on. Why do we feel this way? Because each section of this chapter – divorce, children, wealth, favoritism, and status – hits us on a personal level. We either ARE or we love someone who IS currently living against Jesus' teaching.

Here's what we know as believers – we never have to defend God's Word. It is true, and it is holy. It is inerrant and it proves itself true from cover to cover. And I certainly am not about to spend the next few paragraphs defending the words of Jesus that you might not want to hear.

Instead – let's run it all through a filter of truth:

Does Jesus love you? Oh, more than you will ever know. He loves you so much that He cares more about your holiness than your happiness. He loves you so much that, because He helped form you in your mother's womb and knows every hair on your head and knows every detail of your days, He has a perspective you don't have. Bottom line – His character can be trusted.

So, when He throws a paradox your way that makes you scratch (or shake) your head...

• how two should become one
• how adults should be as children
• how the first should be last
• how servants should be rulers
• how the poor become rich

... you trust Him. You listen. You surrender to His wisdom over your own. You submit your daily plans to His ultimate will. You surrender your desires to His righteousness. When we operate this way, it is counter to our culture and brings glory to our God!

Reflections:

• Ask God to point out areas in your life where you may be resistant to His teachings.
• Ask Him to forgive you!
• Ask God to give you the boldness in humility (not self-righteousness) to live counter-culturally, which is in accordance with God’s Word and not in accordance with the world.

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Family Application: Mark 10

Author: Ashley Prima

If you’ve been reading along with us all week, you’ve probably noticed that one of the key themes in the book of Mark is serving others. In Mark Chapter 10, we continue that theme and learn that James and John asked to be leaders in Jesus’ Kingdom. Jesus reminded them that leadership in God’s Kingdom requires us to first love and serve others; it’s not about position and power. He told them that even He came to earth to serve others, not to be served! Can you imagine? The King of Kings – the One who created the earth, came here to serve the very people He created!

• How do you serve the people around you? Do you help your parents around the house or serve classmates by helping them when they are struggling? How can you serve the people around you this week?
• Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I thank You for teaching me how to live. Thank You for reminding me that You love me and that I need to have faith in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.